Wealth & Tax Planning Private Trust

Wealth & Tax Planning Private Trust

Parties to a Private Trust Simplified structure Principal = Settlor provides guidance Legal Title Trustee Settles assets Holds on Trust Protector (Optional) Private Trust Equitable Title Beneficiaries (Could include Settlor) Assets Usually held through an underlying company and managed by a bank or a designated party (e.g. principal, asset manager or trustee) Setting up a Private Trust The process involves the following main steps: The client initiates the set-up of the trust by signing all required documents The client sets out his/her wishes regarding distributions to the beneficiaries of the trust The trust takes over an underlying company which holds the assets The client transfers specific assets to the trust, which will ultimately be held by the underlying company

Wealth & Tax Planning Private Trust What is a Private Trust? A Private Trust is a commonly used instrument in wealth and tax planning. It is administrated and managed by a trustee who acts according to the trust deed, which is established by an individual or a family, in the best interest of the beneficiaries. It does not normally pursue any commercial activities, nor is it used for charitable purposes. The key concept behind a Private Trust is the fiduciary relationship through which simultaneous rights of ownership in specified property are reflected: the legal title held by the trustees, and the equitable title held by the beneficiaries. This legal separation of asset ownership facilitates many aspects of wealth and tax planning. The Private Trust imposes an equitable obligation on the trustee(s) to hold and administer assets (the trust fund) for the benefit of its beneficiaries. A Private Trust structure usually includes an underlying company from a classic financial centre, such as the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, New Zealand, Singapore or others. A Private Trust can offer several advantages. These include: Succession planning whilst maintaining privacy: more specifically the amounts, percentages, timing, ages and conditions that apply to individual beneficiaries can be defined Facilitation of long-term legacy planning over generations Peace of mind by protecting the family wealth within a legally secure and private structure Protection of minor and incapacitated beneficiaries Avoidance of probate, which can be timeconsuming and costly Possibility of consolidating assets under one holding structure Ease of distribution of assets throughout the trust period Settlor has the possibility of reserving investment powers and may therefore retain control over the investments Trusts are recognised and enforceable in many jurisdictions A trust may be revoked according to the terms of the trust instrument In appropriate circumstances suitable for tax planning Please note: The use of such a structure depends on the legal form and the client specifics such as residence, nationality, etc. It is strongly recommended that legal/tax experts, e.g. from the country where the client is resident as well as from the country in which the investments shall be undertaken, are consulted to ensure proper handling of the overall situation.

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Private Trust At a glance Facts Legal form Minimum investment Assets Change of assets Cash withdrawals Distributions to beneficiaries Contract termination Contract period Pledging of assets Private Trust Trust (various jurisdictions) with an underlying private investment company (if required) No minimum investment required Bankable assets and investments Non-bankable assets considered case by case Change of assets (addition) as well as purchase/sale of investments possible Possible with prior consent of the Trustee Payments can be made to beneficiaries upon request One-time lump sum payment Instalments (predefined amount or income distribution) Termination of the trust is possible, depending on the terms of the trust instrument Generally limited (rules against perpetuity) to between 80 and 150 years (depending on the jurisdiction, unlimited possible in some jurisdictions) As a general rule, the trust s assets may be pledged. Prior trustee s consent might be required Involved parties Principal Beneficiaries Function of the service provider Principal (= Settlor): instructs the provider to establish a trust according to the principal s wishes Beneficiaries are those individuals/legal entities with the beneficial right to receive a present or future benefit from the trust, such as participation in the income or assets of the trust. Usually the principal(s) is (are) appointed as beneficiary(ies). Trustee: obliged to administer and manage the assets under the terms and conditions of the trust deed and always in the best interest of the beneficiaries Benefits Succession and tax planning Flexible asset management options Any individual or legal entity can be named as beneficiary Beneficiaries may usually be changed In the event of death, payment(s) can be made immediately or over a number of years and/or generations Benefits can be subject to conditions Can be tailored to requirements of complex succession planning and probate avoidance In appropriate circumstances suitable for tax planning The principal(s) or a third party may retain the authority to direct the trust s investments

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